Lipid-modulated exosomal miRNAs

• Published in: Journal of extracellular vesicles 2018-01, Vol.7, p.255-255
• Main Authors: Mantilla-Escalante, Diana Carolina, de las Hazas, María-Carmen López, Gil-Zamorano, Judit, Crespo, Maria del Carmen, Del Saz-Lara, Andrea, García-Ruiz, Almudena, Dávalos, Alberto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dietary intake; Dyslipidemia; Exosomes; Gene expression; Lipid metabolism; Lipids; Metabolism; MicroRNAs; miRNA; Physical activity; Post-transcription; Secretion
• ISSN: 2001-3078

Background: Excessive consumption of fat and lack of physical activity promotes lipid metabolism dysregulation such as dyslipidaemias. Increasing evidence suggest that cells are able to communicate through the secretion of nanovesicles called exosomes. Exosomes are small vesicles (30-150 nm) capable of carrying RNAs (including microRNAs) and other types of molecules. microRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression and can be used as biomarkers of different diseases. Methods: The aim of this study is to characterize the exosome miRNA content after the acute intake of dietary fats. For this, miRNAs were isolated from plasma samples of mouse fed with dietary lipids and analysed by RT-qPCR. An initial screening of more than 700 microRNAs was carried out in plasma samples. Results: Of the total number of microRNAs analysed, only around 400 were detected, of which 32 potential candidates were validated in a second cohort of mice plasma samples. Dietary modulated miRNAs were searched in exosomes and only one miRNA candidate was consistently found to be modulated by dietary fats. Summary/Conclusion: In conclusion, our study shows that microRNAs may change their expression in exosomes due to lipid dietary intake. Although more studies are needed, microRNAs could be considered as possible targets for the therapeutic treatments for diseases associated to lipid metabolism.